Instructions for taking the Theory Tests will be emailed soon. Theory testing for all instruments will be sent by June 20th. We will be sending out Theory exam links by instrument and level.

Please do not share that link with others.

The deadline to submit theory tests for all instruments is June 30th, 2020.

The theory testing will be hosted through a secondary platform, not Acceptd. We recommend that students have a strong internet connection and dedicate a block of time to take their exams.

Students will have until June 30, 2020 to complete their Theory exams.

If you have any questions, contact the MTAC State Office. We are open from Monday – Friday, from 9 AM – 5 PM.

June 2020 Communique

All student evaluations videos must be uploaded between Thursday, June 4 and Sunday, June 14, 2020 at 11:59pm.

CM Evaluators will evaluate the performances through June 21 and the results will be posted to the MTAC Online System by June 29, 2020.

Students have to upload a PDF of their original music for the Evaluator’s use during the evaluation process. The application will not be considered complete until the PDF score is uploaded. (This scan should be deleted for copyright purposes after June 14th when the process has been completed)

Here are a few other reminders:

1. Notify the parents to check their Emails on 6/4 to create accounts to upload the videos before the deadline of 6/14.

2. Use student’s Application Number which begins with 7xxxxxx, NOT the ID Number.

3. Check your students’ recordings before they upload. Be sure the camera angle is correct: the evaluator needs to see the whole keyboard, the pedal and side face of the student.

May 2020 Communique

Update from the State Office

Dear Teacher,

Thank you for your flexibility and your support during the current pandemic. The CM Council and the State Organization have been working diligently to adjust the Certificate of Merit Evaluations with the health and safety of students, evaluators, and teachers in mind.

As we recently shared, the Certificate of Merit performance evaluations will be administered in a video format and will be hosted on the platform Acceptd.

All student evaluations videos for your branch must be uploaded to the Acceptd platform between Thursday, June 4 and Sunday, June 14, 2020 at 11:59pm.

Parents and adult students will be sent the link to set up their accounts and start their applications in Acceptd on Thursday, June 4, 2020.

CM Evaluators will evaluate the performance evaluations through June 21 and the results will be posted to the MTAC Online System by June 29, 2020.

Please note: Students will not be charged an additional fee to submit their video performance.

For your convenience, we have included the Certificate of Merit Video Submission Guidelines. Students can begin to record their evaluation videos now or any time prior to their submission deadline. The video guidelines are currently posted on your Teacher Portal. The Video Submission Guidelines are also available on the parent and teacher portal home page under ‘What’s New.’

The technique chart for the students is located in the instrument CM syllabus. If your student does not have a technique chart for your evaluation, you can request one by filling out this form.

Please note, voice students do not have a technique chart.

Information on accessing the online theory exam will be sent in June. Students can take their theory exam at any time during the month of June. All exams must be completed by June 30, 2020.

MTAC State Office

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April 2020 Communique

Update from the State Office

The remaining 2020 Certificate of Merit evaluations will be held online. MTAC has partnered with Acceptd, an online audition and competition platform. Students will upload their pre-recorded videos for our CM Evaluators to view and evaluate.

Evaluations will begin in the last week in May. Each week, students in the selected branches will receive a link to submit their performance videos to the platform Acceptd.

Students and teachers will receive their assigned submission deadline soon.

Students will be sent the guidelines in the next few days to review.

VIDEO EVALUATION & THEORY TEST INFORMATION

The remainder of the Certificate of Merit 2020 Evaluation Season will be conducted by video submission.

MTAC has partnered with Acceptd, an online platform for auditions and competitions. An Acceptd account is required in order to upload performance videos. The creation of the Acceptd account is free and submission of the evaluation videos is included in the CM registration fee.

More information regarding creating an Acceptd account and uploading videos into the Acceptd platform will be provided when your Branch’s upload deadline is scheduled.

Video Instructions:1. Video recording should be good quality, but does not need to be professionally produced. Recording with a smartphone would be an acceptable method of recording. Each video submission should not exceed 4.8 GB. Most file types will be accepted.

2. Video recordings must be made with one fixed camera angle, focused on the performer(s) withface and hands of contestant visible. Please see the images of recommended views for eachinstrument type at the end of this document.

3. Students should dress as they would for a live, in-person evaluation.

4. Students will submit a separate video for each of the following components of the performance evaluation:

● Techniqueo Piano students may only have the technique chart on the piano. No written outnotation is allowed.o String, Wind, and Harp students must turn the music stand toward the camera toshow that only the technique chart is on the music stand, then turn it back to play. Nowritten out notation is allowed.o Voice students must perform technique from memory (no chart for reference). If notusing accompaniment, the vocalise may be sung a capella. Students may use a pianoor digital app to hear a starting pitch before they begin.

● Sight Reading – This aspect has been waived for this year.

● Repertoire – one recording for each pieceo Each piece should be played in its entirety, without stoppingo All recordings do not need to be completed on the same day, but must be completedand submitted by the deadline.o Repertoire previously recorded by the student, such as during a “pre-CM” studiorecital, may be used for this evaluation.o Memorization – pieces performed from memory should have all music removed fromthe piano or the music stand removed (for non-piano students).o Voice students:● Voice students must introduce each piece, including the title, composer, time period,work the piece is from, and a brief translation for songs sung in a foreign language.● If performing without accompaniment, students may play the starting pitch of theirpiece on a piano or digital app before they begin.

5. Video recording must be unaltered and unedited.

6. The file name on the submissions must include the student’s application ID and composer last name or component of the evaluation. (for example, 7XXXXX Technique, 7XXXXX Bach, etc.)

7. Repertoire Changes:

Due to the postponement, students are permitted to change repertoire, except for the piece designated as the “Syllabus Piece.”● While maintaining the correct repertoire categories is best, students will not bepenalized if changes no longer comply with the required repertoire categories.● No updates are necessary in the repertoire portion of the student’s application in theMTAC Online System.

8. For Strings, Winds, and Voice Evaluations: To comply with social distancing mandates, live accompaniment is not required. The teacher and student may select the option best for the student from the options below:● Live accompaniment – if someone in the household can adequately accompany thestudent● Pre-recorded accompaniment or accompaniment program, such as SmartMusic. Pleasebe sure the student’s instrument or voice is heard over the accompaniment.● No Accompaniment The student’s evaluation results will not be affected by the accompaniment choice.

9. For Piano: Students will be evaluated based on their performance, not on the type of piano or keyboard used, or whether it was recently tuned.

10. Video recording can be completed in a studio, home, school, or any location of the student’s choice, but should abide by any current shelter in place and physical distancing mandates.

11. Video Recordings must be uploaded by 11:59PM on the due date assigned to the student’s Branch.

12. Results will be entered into the MTAC Online System and available through the Parent/Student Portal within 2 weeks of the submission deadline.

Online Theory Exam:Students will complete their theory exam on an online testing platform. The test will be in a multiple choice and short answer format. The listening examples of the ear training portion of the exam will be included in the exam. Please see the next page for visual examples.

Visual Example of How to Frame Your Video:Piano students are recommended to angle their camera so that it focuses on their hands on the keyboard and the pedals.For strings and winds students, students must have the music stand facing the camera.For guitar and harp students, we recommend that the camera faces the students straight on.For voice students, we recommend to angle your camera for a waist up view in the frame.

March 2020 Communique

CM Update – Statement from our State Office and the CM Council.

“State and local government health agencies have been adjusting their precautionary measures with additional social distancing mandates. With this in mind, the CM Council and State Organization have been working diligently to create a postponement plan so the remaining students may take their Certificate of Merit Evaluations.

Important updates for Certificate of Merit Evaluations:

Evalutions will resume in late-May/early June, depending on advice from local governments in regards to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Parents and teachers will receive a notification once their evaluations have been rescheduled.

The CM Council and State Organization are reviewing different options for this to take place. More details on the Evaluation procedures will be discussed with each branch or region in late April.

The required syllabus piece on the student’s application must remain the same, but the remaining repertoire can be changed without penalty.

Due to the ongoing pandemic and with the health and safety of students and their families in mind, all CM Convention 2020 Recitals will be cancelled. Student who have already enrolled for 2020 Convention will be refunded.”

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March 12, 2020 Communique

From the State Office

Dear CM Branch Chair and Branch President,

The MTAC State Office and CM Council have been carefully monitoring the Coronavirus/COVID-19 epidemic throughout the State. State and local government health agencies have been adjusting their precautionary measures with additional social distancing mandates. MTAC’s priority is the safety of our students, teachers, and evaluators, and adhering to the local health mandates helps to protect them and the surrounding community.

Based on new recommendations made by the state and local government health agencies in your county and with health and safety in mind, the MTAC State Organization has decided to postpone the upcoming Certificate of Merit® evaluations and theory testing until late April.

MTAC will reassess the situation in mid-April to see if any changes may need to be made to the current postponement plan.

You are receiving this email because your Branch was scheduled to have CM Evaluations between March 14 and March 29 and those events have now been cancelled. We will be in touch once rescheduling information is available.

Tomorrow 1/15 midnight is the deadline for entering ALL the information.
Be sure to CHECK AGAIN the Info on the Repertoire (make sure the periods of music, number of pieces, spellings..), Convention (be sure to read convention guidelines) and Carpool options.
AFTER 1/15, NOTHING CAN BE FIXED OR CHANGED.
Even though I want to help, I can’t. Please understand that the computer system doesn’t allow me to change anything after 1/15. So please make sure all the info is correct before 1/15.

CARPOOL: If you don’t put your sibling students into the carpool before 1/15, those siblings will NOT be scheduled back to back. Please don’t ask me to put them into carpool after 1/15 because the system will not allow me to change or add anything.
It’s teacher’s responsibility to put the sibling students into carpool.

Let’s say John Doe and Jane Doe are a sibling.
1. Find John’s Application ID number (not Student ID number). You may want to write down the Application ID number on a piece of paper.
2. Type John’s Application ID Number & his last name on the Jane’s Schedule Preferences, NOT John’s.

Let’s say John, Jane and Joe are a sibling.
1. Do the same for John and Jane.
2. Then for Joe, find out Joe’s Application ID number.
3. Go to John’s Schedule Preference and type Joe’s Application ID number on John’s Schedule Preference.

If you have question, please let me or Zewhong know.
Thank you.

Best,
Sunyoung

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January 2, 2020 Communique

Dear CM teachers,

Happy New Year!

1/15 is the deadline for entering the Repertoire, Convention and the Carpool option (no AM/PM option). Please don’t check the Branch Honor section since our branch doesn’t have ‘Branch Honors’ from last year. For the State Award, teachers don’t need to apply for it. If you want to know more about the State Award, please see ‘CM policy and Procedures’ under ‘Resources’

While entering Repertoire, if you can’t find a piece on the list, you need to CREATE the piece. Follow the steps on the screen.

The topic for the Convention Theme Recital is Dance Music. You can find more information under ‘Resources’-‘Teachers Resources’.

Make sure to double check if all the information is entered correctly and see if there is any missing information before 1/15. NOTHING CAN BE FIXED OR CHANGED AFTER 1/15.

Please advise the parents not to make any other plans on CM day, 3/21, Saturday. If they don’t show up at their scheduled time on 3/21, the student must pay an extra fee and possibly wait for several hours to take the performance exam.

Here is an example how to enter Carpool option. Let’s say John Doe and Jane Doe are a sibling. 1. Find John’s Application ID number (not Student ID number). You may want to write down the Application ID number on a piece of paper. 2. Type John’s Application ID Number & his last name on the Jane’s Schedule Preferences, NOT John’s.

Let’s say John, Jane and Joe are a sibling. 1. Do the same for John and Jane. 2. Then for Joe, find out Joe’s Application ID number. 3. Go to John’s Schedule Preference and type Joe’s Application ID number on John’s Schedule Preference.

Please don’t wait until the last minute. If it’s too close to the deadline, there may not be enough time to fix or get helped.

I hope to see all of you at the General Meeting on 1/17. Especially if you have any questions on Theory, please come to this meeting. Our Dr. Alan Oettinger will kindly share his expertise with us. Many many thanks to him!

IMPORTANT: if you have any CM related questions, please let me or Zewhong (zewhong@gmail.com) know only for getting the accurate and fast responses. I am answering your questions ASAP but sometimes I need time to figure it out. But you’ll get my response within 48 hrs. Please DON’T ask someone else for help.

Thank you. Have a wonderful day.

Best,Sunyoung

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March 2019

Reminder ……(according to CM Policies and Procedures)

2.1 Certificate of Merit® Line of Communication
(a) Communication Procedures. In accordance with the CM Policies & Procedures, any communications, questions, or concerns regarding Certificate of Merit® (e.g. administration, operations, evaluations, training, policies or procedures), must first be directed to the student’s own teacher. Many questions and potential issues can often be resolved at this level. Any communications, questions, or concerns received that do not follow these procedures cannot be accepted, responded to, or considered by, the Branch CM Chair, CM Council, or MTAC.
(b) Inbound Communication. Questions or issues that cannot be resolved by the CM Teacher, and/or questions or issues from the CM Teacher that require a response from the Branch or State (or “inbound” communications), shall be directed as follows, and must be communicated by email only (please identify Branch and Contact Name in all emails):
(1) Parent to CM Teacher…if needed, then to –
(2) CM Branch Chair…if needed, then to –
(3) CM Council (see CM Council Roster to contact appropriate CM Council member).
(c) Outbound Communication. CM Council may contact anyone in the Line of Communication, as needed, including but not limited to the following:
(1) CM Council may contact Teachers regarding Change of Teacher issues;
(2) CM Panel Coordinators may contact Teachers regarding Panel and scheduling issues.

…………………………………………………………………………………..

March 18, 2019

Dear CM teachers,

CM results are all entered. You can view the CM results for your students online.

I would like to thank all of you for your hard work and support! Special thanks to Marina Lomtatidze who is our Food Chair for CM day. She prepared a wonderful table of food and drinks and top of it, she donated $120 for us. Thank you very much, Marina! Also a big thanks to Lieschen and Virginia who helped us even though they had no obligation to work. Thank you!!

Please let me know if you have any suggestions/concerns or feedback about your job or anything related to the CM day. I will report about our CM at the Meeting on 4/1. If you can, please attend the meeting. You can pick up your Envelope (theory booklet, Performance evaluation sheet, Certificates, State honor seals) and Theory winner trophy.

I’d like to remind you some CM procedures. For some of you it might be the first time participating CM. I hope it helps.

First of all, I’d like to ask all of you to be respectful and polite toward the evaluator, students and each other on our CM day. I’ve heard some complains about it. It’s a long day to everyone but we should be professional. Remember, the evaluators will also evaluate our branch.

1. Students must register at the Registration Desk (see UCLA map that I sent you). From that point, parents have to wait in front of the Registration desk area or outside of the building. Parents are NOT allowed behind the Registration Desk and any of the evaluation rooms. The parents can use the restroom located outside ONLY (court yard. See the UCLA map).
Please let the parents know before 3/16 so there is no misunderstanding.

2. After registration, students should go into the Theory room. The Theory room is located same floor as Registration Desk located. Students must use the restroom before going into the Theory room. We try to avoid students using restroom during the test in order to prevent cheating. The restrooms for students are located right in front of the Theory room.

3. Students must take Theory test and Ear Training Test in the same room. If they finish the Theory test, they need to hand out the finished test to the teachers who are working inside the Theory room and wait outside of the Theory room. There will be chairs for them.
Please make sure students don’t leave the Theory room area. A room monitor who is going to take students to the performance evaluation room can’t find the student if this student leaves the Theory room area.

3. If students didn’t finish the Theory/Ear training test when they are about to perform, the students must hand in the test booklet to the teacher who is working inside the Theory room and say “I didn’t finish the test”. Then the Theory test booklet would be placed in the pending box. After finishing performance test, the student MUST go back to the Theory room and finish it. *** Students are not allowed to place their theory test booklets in the pending or finishing section. They must hand in to the theory room monitors. Please make sure students don’t take the Theory test outside of the Theory room. If it happens, the students will receive 0 point on their Theory test.

4. When a room monitor takes the student to the performance room, student must open his/her books in order (the first measure of each line should have measure numbers. Please put a paper clip or small post it sticker and number the pieces: Write 1 for the first piece, 2 for the second piece and etc.)
*** We had 2 evaluators complained about missing measure numbers on the book last year.
Tips: Be polite to the evaluator. When a student goes into the performance room with the books, student should say “Hi” to the evaluator. After finishing, say “Thank you” to the evaluator. Dress nicely.:)

5. Evaluator would ask the student to start with Technique. When I evaluate other branch students, some students have no idea what Technique and SR means… Please make sure your students understand what they are.

Be sure not to start playing unless the evaluator tells the student to play. The evaluator needs time to write the comments. The evaluator will tell the student when to start Technique, SR and each piece.

6. After performance tests are done, the evaluator will give the book back to the student. Say “Thank you” to the evaluator and take the books and leave the room.

If the students finish Theory/Ear Training test and Performance test, they can go back to the Registration area or place where their parents are waiting.

Lunch (simple sandwich) will be served to all the teachers around 12-12:30pm. If you want, you can bring your own lunch.

Good luck to all your students!!
If you have question, let me know.

Please be on time on 3/16. Please don’t take your job lightly. Every teacher’s job is very important on our CM day for our students.

Thank you! See you on Saturday.

Best,
Sunyoung

February 2019

Dear CM Teachers,

I hope everyone received the CM students’ schedule and campus maps for the students/parents. Your job assignments will be sent out this week.

When you have any questions on CM, the questions must come to the CM chair. I’d like to suggest the followings:
1. First, check the CM policies and Procedures under your site. www.new.mtac.org>Certificate of Merit>Resources. You will find a lots of information under ‘Resources’. Or check the CM syllabus.
2. If you can’t find the answer under CM polices or syllabus, send an E mail ONLY to the CM chair. I will try to answer within 48 hours.
3. If I, CM chair can’t answer the question, I will contact one of the CM council member to assist us. It might take more than 48 hours.

If the parents have questions, the question must directed to the student’s teacher first. Then the teacher check polices and syllabus. If the teacher can’t find the answer, write an E mail to me. Parents shouldn’t contact me or CM council directly regarding CM questions.

You can also ask CM questions to Zew Hong Lee or Dr. Alan Oettinger. When you write an E mail, please cc me so I can see the messages, too.
It’s important to me to understand what kinds of questions our branch CM teachers have so I can assist better and improve our branch CM.

***Important reminders on CM day:

***NOTE: Student must arrive at least 1 HOUR earlier than their scheduled Performance Time. If the student is in Level Prep through Level 2, drop him/her off just 1 hour earlier than the assigned performance time. The Theory evaluation room will open at 8AM. The students who are scheduled from 8:30AM to 9AM can enter the room at 8AM. The theory room will close at 5:00 PM. The students must turn in their exam by 5:00 PM. The students in Level 8~ADV should arrive and begin their test no later than 3PM in order to turn it in by 5PM.

REMEMBER:
1. Students MUST register at the Registration desk and start the Theory test first. During the Theory test, students will be called out by their name or picked up when it’s time for his/her Performance Test. Take all the belongings (EXCEPT Theory Test Booklet) and follow one of the teacher to an assigned Evaluation room.
**If the student didn’t finish the Theory test and Ear Training test when his/her name is called out, the Theory booklet MUST remain in the “Pending Section” (hand it in to one of the teacher inside the Theory room). After the Performance evaluation is done, the student MUST return to the Theory testing room and finish the test. If the students finished the Theory test and Ear Training test before the Performance evaluation, hand in the booklet to one of the teacher inside the Theory room and wait in the theory room until their names are called out.

2. Parents are NOT allowed in the testing area, including students’ restrooms, evaluation rooms and theory testing room (CM Policy section 5A #6). Parent may wait in front of the registration desk, outside in the courtyard, or elsewhere outside the music building.

3. Be on Time. If a student is late, there will be an extra fee and possibly a long waiting period. Parents should pick up their child/children at the waiting area. Please DO NOT drop your children too early or pick them up too late.

4. Students are NOT allowed to bring the cell phone, iPods, iPads, Tablets, Kindle, and Cameras into the theory room. They must leave them with their parents or at the Registration desk.

5. Students MUST bring their music books. Make sure measures are numbered on the student’s score (Only the 1st measure of each line is necessary) and put a paper clip on the first page of each piece.

6. If your student is planning to use music (Not memorized) during the evaluation, the student MUST bring 2 books (1 for Evaluator and 1 for the student).

7. DO NOT bring any photocopies of music. If an evaluator finds photocopies of music, student is automatically disqualified.

8. There will be NO RESTROOM BREAK during the theory test. Make sure the students use a restroom before they enter the Theory room. If a student needs to use a restroom during the test, the student must raise a hand and one of the teacher will escort the student.

9. The CM evaluation results will be announced to teachers and parents by online after the evaluation.

Best,
Sunyoung

January 2019

Dear CM teachers,

1/15 is the deadline for entering the Repertoire, Convention and the Carpool option (no AM/PM option). Please don’t check the Branch Honor section since our branch will not have ‘branch honors’ from this year.

Make sure to double check if all the information is entered correctly and see if there is any missing information before 1/15.
NOTHING CAN BE FIXED OR CHANGED AFTER 1/15.

Please advise the parents not to make any other plans on CM day, 3/16, Saturday. If they don’t show up at their scheduled time on 3/16, the student must pay an extra fee and possibly wait for several hours to take the performance exam.

While entering Repertoire, if you can’t find a piece on the list, you need to CREATE the piece. Follow the steps on the screen.

Here is an example how to enter Carpool option.
Let’s say John Doe and Jane Doe are siblings.
1. Find John’s Application ID number (not Student ID number). You may want to write down the Application ID number on a piece of paper.
2. Type John’s Application ID Number & his last name on the Jane’s Schedule Preferences, NOT John’s.

Let’s say John, Jane and Joe are siblings.
1. Do the same for John and Jane.
2. Then for Joe, find out Joe’s Application ID number.
3. Go to John’s Schedule Preference and type Joe’s Application ID number on John’s Schedule Preference.

Please don’t wait until the last minute. If it’s too close to the deadline, there may not be enough time to fix or get helped.

If you have any questions, please let me or Zewhong (zewhong@gmail.com) know.

Thank you.

Best,
Sunyoung

October 2018

Dear CM teachers,

Thank you to the teachers who has attended one of the CM Mandatory Meetings of 2018.

Thanks also to Hasmik, for offering her Burbank Studio for us.

The teachers who attended may begin CM enrollment from 10/1.

Here are the IC and RAL lists for the CM performance evaluation for your reference.

c. Advanced (Level 10) Etude is not from required Etude list as provided in the Piano Syllabus;

d. Performing any Unacceptable Repertoire.

Ineligible for Convention:

Students shall receive an “Ineligible for Convention Recitals” for the following:

a. Performance does not meet the required Convention ratings and/or theory score. (b) original music scores were not provided to the Evaluator, including a second original score if the piece was not memorized (and a third original score if a live accompanist performs).

b. Repertoire performed was not listed in the Evaluation Report Form.

c. English translation of the Title and Composer for music published in a foreign language was not provided.

d. Non-Piano (Winds, Strings, Voices): for pieces requiring accompaniment, student dose not have a live accompanist. (This is not a new requirement, as it it listed in 8.2 and 9.4, but is being added here for clarity).